Shaft seal



Jan- 30, 19410- F. T. GRoTHoUsE 2,188,784

SHAFT SEAL Filed Feb 3, 1959 b Wan/ffy y His Attorney.

Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT- oFFlcE' SHAFT SEAL New York Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254,432

3 Claims.

My invention relates to shaft seals and more particularly to rotary shaft seals-for` refrigerant compressors. a

InA shaft seals for refrigerator compressors which are provided with a spring pressed sealing ring working against the face of a shoulder on the compressor shaft, difficulties have been experienced after long periods of service because of wear on the shoulder of the compressor shaft. When the shoulder on the shaft becomes scored or damaged or for any other reason unsuitable for further service, it becomes necessary to dismantle the compressor completely and regrind the shaft shoulder to properly recondition the sealing surface and in many cases it 'may even be necessary to put in a new shaft which also requires complete disassembly of the compressor mechanism. Furthermore, in many instances the remaining parts of the compressor are in a sufficiently good condition so that replacement is not necessary; and it is, therefore, uneconomical to dismantle the entire compressor in order to replace a worn surface on the compressor shaft shoulder.` In order to over- J come these difficulties, removable collars have been pro-vided having sealing surfaces formed.

thereon. These collars comprise replaceable shaft shoulders and make it possible to recondition the seal without dismantling the compressor. Under some conditions of operation, it has been found that there is a tendency for the replaceable shaft shoulder to be4 forced-away from its positionin engagement with the shoulder on the shaft; such loosening of the shaft shoulder may, of course, result in leakage through the seal.

Accordingly, it is an object4 of my invention to provide an improved seal which may be replaced readily when worn without requiring a complete dismantling of the compressor and 4 which will operate satisfactorily even under unfavorable conditions which may exist, for example, in large compressors or compressors of 'any size in lwhich relatively high crankcase preslscription proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this'specification.

For a better understanding of my invention 5 reference may'fbe had to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a refrigy erant compressor provided with a shaft sealing arrangement embodying my invention. 10

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown a portion of a refrigerant compressor casing Ill provided with a boss II which is counterbored at IIa to define a chamber I2 therein. A drive shaft I3 is journaled in a bearingl in the com- 16- pressor casing andy is adapted to be connected 25 to a suitable source of power such, for example, as an electric motor. The inner end of the shaft I3 extends into the interior of the compressor casing and drives the compressor mechanism housed therein.

During operation of the compresor, the pressure ywithin/the compressor casing is normally higher than atmospheric pressure, gaseous refrigerant tends to leak from the interior of the compressor casing yIIJ along the drive shaft I3 35 into the chamber I2 and out into the atmosphere. Y

Accordingly, I have provided asealing arrangement for preventing the escape of refrigerant and other uids from the interior of the casing IIJ, preferably comprising a replaceable shaft 40 shoulder I6 mounted on the drive shaft' I3 in abutting relation to the shoulder I5 thereon. The replaceable shaft shoulderv I6 comprises a ring substantially U-shaped in cross section providing a relatively narrow annular recess I1. Annular ring I8 of resilient material is positioned in the recess II provided in the replaceable shaft Lshoulder and abuts against the shaft shoulder I5 forming a seal between shoulder I5 and replaceable shaft shoulder I6. The sealing ring I8 50 contacting shaft shoulder I5 is relatively narrow in order to establish the sealing diameter within definite narrow limits for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth in detail. The replaceable shaft shoulder ii is also provided with a polished transverse outer sealing surface I6a. A resilient driving ring I9 is pressed between shaft I3 and replaceable shoulder` I6 in a xed relation to the shaft and to drive it therewith. The replaceable shoulder I6 and shaft shoulder I5 are spaced apart and the rings I8 and I9 cooperate with the shaft and the replaceable shoulder to form a small annular chamber 31. The chamber 31 is maintained at atmospheric pressure by a duct or vent 20 providing communication between the chamber and the outside of the seal. Should the sealing ring I8 be defective when installed and permit the passage of oil or vapor into the chamber 31, the leak will quickly become apparent due to leakage through the vent 20 and along the shaft I3, and the defective seal may be discovered quickly and replaced. It is readily apparent that the resilient ring I9 is provided solely to hold the replaceable shoulder I6 in position on the shaft while the ring I8 is provided to effect a seal between the replaceable shoulder and the shaft shoulder I5. The sealing ring I8 and the driving ring I9 preferably comprise a material having similar physical characteristics to those of rubber but being less affected by saturation with lubricatingl oil. One such material suitable for this purpose, available on the market under the trade name Neoprene, undergoes a change of less than 10 per cent by volume when saturated with lubricating oil and is well suited for use in seals of the type described herein. Ordinary rubber would increase in volume from A to 200 per cent when saturated with lubricating oil and obviously is unsatisfactory for sealing purposes when in contact with oil.

An annular supporting collar 2| having a peripheral flange 22 is provided in chamber I2 and surrounds the shaft I3 in spaced relationship thereto. lThe supporting collarV 2| is provided` with an annular recess at 2Ia in the face thereof adjacent vthe replaceable shoulder I6 and open to the drive shaft I 3. An annular nosepiece 23 is mounted in the recess 2Ia of the supporting collar 2| in such a manner thatno leakage can occur between nosepiece 23 and supporting collar 2|. Thenosepiece 23 is preferably made of a lead bronze alloy and is welded to the supporting collar 2|. The nosepiece 23 is provided with a polished bearing and sealing face 23a which engages the sealing surfaceIBa of replaceable shoulder I6 and carries the thrust between the supporting collar 2| and the replaceable shaft shoulder I6.

In the open end of chamber I2 opposite the 'bearing I4 there is provided an annular washer 24 removably secured in sealed relationship with annular flange 25 provided about the outer end of the boss II. Annular washer 24 is secured in place by means of an annular cover member 26 fastened to the flange 25 by cap screws 21 having threaded ends 28. -A suitable gasket 29 is interposed between the flange 25 and the washer 24 in order to tightly seal the washer 24 to the boss II. The inner diameter of the Washer 24 is'slightly larger than the reduced diameter of the shaft I3 and hence there is a small space 30 between the Washer and the shaft. An imperforate resilient metallic bellows 3| extends between the supporting ring 2| and the washer 24. The opposite ends of the bellows 3| are soldered or otherwise hermetically sealed to the adjacent portions of the supporting collar 2| and the Washer 24 respectively. The bellows 3| thus forms a seal between the` supporting collar 2| and washer 24, and hence the supporting chamber I2.

collar 2| and the nosepiece 23 comprise a stationary element of the sealing arrangement.

A helical compression spring 32 surrounds the bellows 3| and extends between the peripheral flange 22 of the supporting collar 2| and the intermediate portion of the washer 24 inside the This helical spring rmly presses the nosepiece 23 in'bearing and sealing engagement with the replaceable shaft shoulder I6. When the parts are assembled as shown in the drawing, the shaft I3 and the replaceable shaft shoulder I6 are rotatable while the remaining parts of the shaft seal are stationary.

In the operation of the compressor the lubricant contained within the compressor casing I0 is splashed upwardly so that some of it enters the pocket 33 from which a portion of it ows through the passage 34 to the contacting surfaces of the drive shaft I3 and the bearing I4 to lubricate the same. Another portion of this lubricant also flows along the drive shaft I3 through a longitudinal groove 35 formed in the bearing -I4 and enters the interior of chamber I2. Lubricant also flows from the pocket 33 through a passage 36 into the chamber I2. The lubricant thus entering the interior of the chamber I2 lubricates the sealing surface I 6a of the removable collar I6 and the bearing surface 23a of the nose piece 23. It will be observed that a considerable amountv of lubricant will be trapped and retained in the chamber I2 providing a seal of the ooded type. The lubricant contained in the chamber I2 will come in contact with the resilient sealing ring I8. It is evident, thereforai that the resilient sealing ring should be' constructed of some suitable material such as Neoprene which is not materially affected by contact'v with lubricating oil.

The separate sealing ring I8 and driving ring I9 make possible the satisfactory operation of compressors of large sizes where the areas exposed to crank case pressure are great, or of compressors of any size where the crank case pressures are high. Since resilient member I8 serves merely as a sealing. ring and need not function as a means for driving the replaceable shaft shoulder with the compressor shaft, it may be made relatively narrow so as to establish the effective sealing diameter within definite narrow limits. The effective sealing diameter of resilient member I 8 with respect to shaft shoulder I5 is definitely greater than the diameter of the seal between the sealing faces 23a and I6a. so that as the crank case pressure increases greater force is exerted tending to push the replaceable shoulder I6 against shaft shoulder I5. Therefore, lmy invention is applicable to high pressure compressors or to compressors of large sizes where it becomes desirable toy assure quite definitely that the effective sealing diameter of the replaceable shaft shoulder with respect to the shaft shoulder I5 is larger than the effective sealing diameter between sealingv faces 23a and I6a. If the above relation exists, the replaceable shaft shoulder I6 is pressed against the shaft shoulder I5 by the crank case pressure exerted about the seal, it being evident that the crank case pressure acts against a greater area in a direction tending to force the replaceable shoulder against' the shaft shoulder than in the opposite direction. The presence of the chamber 31 vented to atmosphere cuts down materially' the areas of the replaceable shaft shoulder I6 exposed to crank case pressure which would tend to force it away from shoulder I5 Therefore, regardless of how high the crank case pressure may be, the replaceable shaft shoulder I6 will not be forced away from the shoulder I5 but instead will be pressed against the shoulder I5 with greater force as the compressor crank case pressure increases. It is, therefore, not necessary to make the spring 32istrong enough to provide increased pressure to balance increased crank'case pressures.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and effective arrangement for sealing the shaft of my inv'ention in connection witha compressor for a refrigerating machine I do not desire my invention to be limited to the construction shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention. l What I claim as new and desire to secure'in Letters Patent of the United States is: 'p

l. A shaft seal comprising a casingvprovidedf with a shaft aperture, a rotatable shaft extend-v ing through said aperture and provided with a transverse annular shoulder, a removable collar.: surrounding said shaft adjacent said shoulder;V means for securing said, collar to said shaft for rotation therewith, a ring of resilient material surrounding and spaced from said shaft and ar.- ranged between said shoulder and said removable collar for providing between said collar and said. shoulder a seal having a predetermined effective sealing diameter, said collar having an annulai` sealing surface on the side thereof remote from said shoulder, a second collar arranged about and spaced from said, shaft and having an annular nosepiece provided with a sealing surface ar- 'ranged to engage said sealing surface on said removable collar, means for sealing said secondcollar with respect to said casing, and means for urging said second collar axially of said'shaft toward said removable collar 'to maintain said sealing surfaces in engagement, the effective sealing diameter of said nosepiece being less than the effective sealing diameter of said resilient ring.

therewith, a ring of resilient material surrounding and spaced from said shaft and arranged between said shoulder and said removable collar for providing between said collar and said shoulder a seal having a predetermined effective sealing diameter, said ring cooperating with said shoulder and said removable collar to provide an annular chamber surrounding said shaft, means for providing communication between said chamber and the atmosphere outside said casing, saidcollar having an annular sealing surface on the side thereof remote from said shoulder, a second collar arranged about and spaced from said shaft and having an annular nosepiece provided with a sealing surface arranged to engage said sealing surface on said removable collar, means for sealing said second collar with -respect to said casing, and means for urging said second collar axially of said shaft toward said removable collar to maintain said sealing surfaces in engagement, the effective sealing diameter of said nosepiece being less than the effective sealingdiameter lof said first-mentioned resilient ring.4

3. A shaft seal comprising a casing provided with a shaft aperture, a rotatable shaft extendring through said aperture and provided with a .transverse-'annular shoulder, a removable *collar surrounding said shaft adjacent said shoulder and .having vvan annular recess therein on the for securing said collar 'tosaid shaft for rota- -tion therewith, a ring of resilient material surrounding andspaced from said shaft and arranged between said shoulder and said removable collar for providing between said collar and said shoulder av seal having a predetermined effective sealing diameter, said ring 'cooperating i chamber and the atmosphere outside said casing,v Asaid collar `having an annular sealing surface on the side thereof remote from said-shoulder, a second collar arranged about and spaced from said shaft and having an annular nosepiece provided with a sealing surface arranged to engage said sealing surface on said removable collar, means for sealing said second collar with respect to said casing, and means for urging s'aid second collar axially of said shaft toward said removable collar to maintain said sealing surfaces in engagementthe effective sealing diameter of said nosepiece being less than the eifective sealing diameter f said first-mentioned resilient ring.

FRANK 'I'. GRoTHoUsE. 

